Dat=: Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Subject: UPU news LG ELECTIONS IN SRI LANKA

To: Dr Vickramabahu <vamabahu@gmail.com>, vickramabahu@googlegroups.com


<=>The following press statement was made by Dr Vickramabahu Karunarathne , =ava Sama Samaja Party- new same society party, a critical assessment o= the last local government elections in Sri Lanka. it was published in Dai=y Mirror , Sudoroli and other local journals.


The local government elections were held under emergency rule with the army=in the streets. This amounts to a military rule in the Tamil homeland in t=e NE. In other areas too, it was intimidating; and under this cover the go=ernment was able undermine the freedom of campaign of the opposition. In a=dition, the government made use of administrative power to misuse governme=t resources. Government backed thuggery and election malpractices were rep=rted. Hence, no way we can say it was a free and fair election. In particu=ar it is not in the north. However, the Tamils faced all these obstacles t= vote against the government and defeat Mahinda, and drive his battalions =ut of Tamil homeland. Brutal military victory of the chauvinist was defeat=d by the ballot. Glaringly, it has shown to the world that the country is =ivided on national basis by the deeds of the regime. Some credit could be =iven to the elections department for the breathing space given.

In the south the opposition could not face the oppressiv= actions of the government. Conservative policies of the UNP are no match =or the radical right wing policies of the government. JVP could not break =rom the chauvinist past, in which they supported Mahinda to consolidate po=er. In this scenario, people who wanted to protest against the government,=in many areas, created divisions within government ranks. There were many =lashes and one person was killed, while many were injured. It is clear tha= a radical social democratic movement is necessary to take the oppositiona= masses forward. In urban areas radial elements who were affected by strik= wave, have voted against both bourgeoisie elements which is note worthy. =ava Sama Samaja Party –new same society party- came third at Rathnapura =S, only place we contested in this election while Sivajilingum and other T=mils, who worked closely with us in the recent past and contested in TNA l=sts, have won positions in the North. We thank all those who voted against=the regime, and particularly those that voted for us.

Dr Vickramabahu Karunarathne

UPU news 1August 2011

tp 0777237241

contributions:

NAVA SAMA SAMAJA PART=, 17BARRACKS LANE, COLOMBO 2

A/C NO: 8004893301,

COMMERCIAL B=NK OF CEYLON LIMITED  swift code CCEYLKLX

contributions to vickramabahu: BANK OF CEYLON  A/C NO 0000306345 swif= code BCEYLKLX